Bilge block jack



Nov. 17, 1936. c. E. MITCHELL BILGE BLOCK JACK Filed Dec. 27, 1955 I/v vZ/v To R. 'gf/.mami f. MTcf/fu,

Patented Nov. I7, 1935 PATENT' ortica 2,061,038 BILGE BLOCK JACK Clarence E. Mitchell, Long Beach, Calif.

Application December 27, 1935, Serial No. 56,341

6 Claims.

When a ship is placed in dry dock, large, heavy blocks are placed against the side or bilge of the vessel to hold the vessel in Vertical position.

This invention relates to a bilge block jack whereby the bilge blocks may be easily and quickly moved horizontally into or out of engagement with the bilge of the vessel, whereby one man can accomplish the movement of the bilge block without great exertion.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel bilge block jack which is adapted to be attached to a bilge block whereby the block can be moved horizontally along its runner, either towards or away from the vessel.

Another object is to provide a novel bilge block jack of the character stated, which can be quickly and easily attached or detached from the bilge block and which is operable by one man to accomplish the movement of the block.

Still another object is to provide a bilge block jack which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and

the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end View of my jack attached to a bilge block.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the jack in position ready to move the block away from the vessel.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of my jack detahed from the block.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the jack.

Figure 7 is a side elevation oi a modied form of gripping means for the lever bar.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I indicates the bilge block which consists of a plurality of heavy wooden blocks placed one on top of the other to the desired height for engagement with the side walls of the vessel. The bilge block rests upon a runner 2, the runner being preferably T-shaped in cross section with the flange portion on top. A guard rail 3 is provided on each side of the runner 2 and i'lts under the top flange of the runner. The guard rails are xedly attached to the blocks by means of plates 4 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the side of the blocks and the guard rails.

The jack 5 consists of an operating handle 6 of suilcient length to give great leverage to the jack. A link 'l is pivotally secured to the handle 6 adjacent the lower end thereof by suitable means, such as a clamp plate 8. The outer ends of the link are bent inwardly and are adapted to nt into one of the holes 9 of the rearmost plate 4, Thus, the link is pivotally attached to the blocks and also to the handle 6.

A lever bar I0 is pivotally secured to the lower end of the handle S and the bar is bent outwardly, as shown at ll, so as to fit in grooves I2 of the top pinch blocks I3. The bar is then bent downwardly at both sides, as shown at I4, and the lower end of the bar is nnally bent inwardly and i'lts into the bottom pinch block I5.

The pinch blocks I3 and I5 rest on the top and bottom, respectively, of the flange of the runner 2V thereby providing a movable stop against which the lever 6 can pull in order to move the blocks I. When pulling on the blocks I, as shown in Fig. 2, the front edge of the blocks is raised off the runners and the friction between the blocks and the runner is thus materially lessened. The lifting of the blocks` occurs by reason of the upward inclination of the link l. If the frictional engagement of the pinch blocks I3 and I5 is not sufficient to hold them against slipping, it might be desirable to arrange a rack I6 on top of the runner 2 and a pawl I1 is pivotally mounted on the bar l0 and drops into the rack, as showntherefore positively holding the pinch blocks against slipping.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A bilge block jack comprising an operating handle, a link pivotally attached to the handle and to the bilge blocks, means gripping the runner upon which the bilge blocks slide, and means pivotally connecting the gripping means and the actuating handle.

2. A bilge block jack comprising an actuating handle, a link pivotally secured to the handle at one end and to the bilge block at the other, gripping means adapted to engage the runner upon which the block slides, and a lever bar pivotally attached at one end to the gripping means and at the other end to the actuating handle.

3. A bilge block jack adapted to move a bilge block mounted on a runner, having a flange at the top` of the runner, comprising a handle, a link pivotally attached at one end to the handle and at the other end to the bilge block, a pair of gripping blocks frictionally engaging the top and bottom of the runner flange and a lever bar pivotally secured to the gripping blocks and to the actuating handle.

4. A bilge block jack comprising an actuating handle, a link pivotally attached at one end to the handle and at the other end to the bilge block, a lever bar pivotally attached to the actuating handle, a rack on the runner upon which the bilge block slides, and a pawl on the lever bar, said paWl engaging the rack.

5. A bilge block jack comprising an actuating handle, a link pivotally attached at one end to the handle and at the other 4end to the bilge block, a lever bar pivotally attached :to the .actuating handle, a rack on the runner upon which the bilge block slides, a pawl on the lever bar. said pawl engaging the rack, a pair of gripping blocks on each side of the runner, said blocks being positioned above and below the ange of the runner, said lever bar being pivotally attached to the gripping blocks.

6. A bilge block jack comprising an actuating handle, a substantially U-shaped link pivotally mounted on the handle at one end, said block having holes in the side thereof to receive the other end of the link, gripping' blocks engaging the top and bottom of the flange of the runner upon which the blocks slide, and a leverbar pivotally attached to the handle at one end and to vthegripping blocks at the other end.

CLARENCE E. MITCHELL. 

